Investigating the Authenticity of Paintings and works of art believed to be by or Attributed to

Hector Edward Philippe CaffieriRI ROI RBA

Hector Caffieri

(1847-1932)

Was a British landscape painter and principally a watercolourist as examples his oil paintings are uncommon.

He was born in Cheltenham, the son of French parents who had settled temporarily in England and Caffieri was privileged to have been tutored in Paris at the Académie Julian under the French academic genre artists Léon Bonnat and Jules-Joseph Lefebvre and painted many figurative works in or around northern French ports having moved there permanently from London where he taught drawing in 1897. Towns such as such as Boulogne-sur-Mer, which was to become his home, featured prominently in his oeuvres, often with fisher folk, markets, peasants, beach scenes and coastal views are the subjects of his paintings, though whilst living in England he visited British coastal towns too and rivers, such as the Thames were also his subject. He sometimes painted flowers and more rarely sporting scenes, but is perhaps best known for his typical Victorian country and woodland pictures including children.

Caffieri was considered by many to be a master of his craft and exhibited widely, the Royal Academy from 1875 to 1901 and the Salon des Society des Artistes Francais in Paris from 1892 to 1893.

There is no need at all for a more detailed account of the life of Hector Caffieri to be written here. It has been previously documented by others. However, due to his following and the values of works of art that are available today, the artist was and will still be imitated.

Adding a signature to a painting either by deletion of a previous one, or the addition of one to a previously unsigned work, is a common place fraud and any attempt at such imitation is clearly a criminal deception. Today, paintings are deliberately faked, or more commonly, they can be misrepresented or simply misattributed to a hand. That of course can be either mistakenly or deliberately and have been made at any time in the present or the past.

It must be said, that some of the Hector Caffieri works that have and do surface in the future will need consideration and investigation to be absolutely certain of both their legitimacy and that a previously given attribution, or the provenance and history associated with it is sound. Or that any description is correct and can truly be relied upon.

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We are international fine art consultants, authenticity investigators specialising in conducting full investigations into the authenticity of works of art created by artists in all categories, in all regions and from historical eras. We fully scrutinize and track provenance,

confidentially serving both private individuals and corporate clients from around the world for over 45 years.

We can assist and advise you in all fine art related matters, particularly issues of authentication, legitimacy and the attribution of old and modern master works of art. Including the fine works of Hector Caffieri, his circle and followers, or any paintings or works of art that you are unsure about.

Some examples of works signed with that name appear below. No inference or question is made as to their authenticity, moreover they are a cross the board representational view of the types of works offered for sale at auction internationally, some of which will need to be understood and sometimes specifically need to be fully qualified and authenticated.

Hector Caffieri (British, 1847-1932)
'A fishing party' signed and dated 'H. Caffieri 1875' further signed, titled and inscribed with the artist's address (on old artist's label attached to modern backboard) oil on canvas Sold for £ 2,295.00

Caffieri, Hector (U.K., 1847-1932). "The Picnic".
c.1869. Oil on canvas. Couples relaxing by a river bank with a canoe and lush trees.

An unusual painting, deviating well from the norm of Caffieri. An oil painting, which may well be associated with his time in Paris under the tutelage of Leon Bonnat

Hector Caffieri

ART AND AUTHENTICITY:

Both the duration and direction of any attribution or investigation into the authenticity of a work of art will inevitably vary from project to project, but there are clear and very well defined professional formalities, responsibilities and areas of scrutiny that we can formally assist you with including:

Authentication: Authentification: Conducting and directing comprehensive investigations
and in depth research, with a view to establishing a correct, complete and
formally recognized certification of a work of art.

One that is absolutely upheld by the
appropriate, legally acknowledged and internationally sanctioned authority, body or
expert on that given artist. By directing
detailed and often complicated inquiries, with multilingual capability, full international academic research and any
forensic applications that are required.

Attribution:Identifying and confirming
the identity of a previously anonymous artist, studio or workshop from which a
work of art most likely originated. Including the re-examination and investigation of a
previous attribution which may be incorrect, or the scrutiny of an attribution
that has been formally questioned or is currently doubted.

Confirmation: Undertaking research and investigations into the legitimacy of the provenance, history and prior ownership of a work of art and establishing its accuracy and legitimacy.

Scrutiny: Examen minutieux:Identifying fake or faux works of art
and forgeries, including any false supportive accompanying documentation and
determining works of art which may be studio or later copies, or previously given incorrect
attributions.

Prosecution:Poursuite: Investigating alleged art fraud and forgery and assisting and advising those who
are currently , or may be considering litigating or prosecuting the fact. This includes
colleagues who are legal professionals and individual private clients.

Attention:Conducting all fine art related due diligence and duty of care
inquiries. Including safe prepurchase or sale related audits and assisting
clients in consolidating a well balanced future family distribution.

Appraisal:Évaluation - Valuations, quality and condition reports.

Step one in the Art Authentication and Attribution process.

Hector Caffieri

The Pre-Authentication Assessment.

Before you begin any art authenticity, legitimacy, or artist attribution investigation, it is wise to have an impartial preliminary assessment of the viability of the project conducted first. One made to independently and rationally balance any negative issues there may be against the positive elements. You should treat this study as your initial safety net.

We will be happy to professionally undertake this for you, based upon good quaity images that you supply and all the known facts regarding its acquisition, the history and provenance of the work of art as is known to you.

You will then have a far better understanding of the prospects and pitfalls that could lie ahead.

It is important to clearly understand auction terms that are used in any published descriptor, in order to be cautious of works that may just be painted in the manner of the artist, or even the stylized - would be copies of his works which bear a signature or monogram.

In this case if they were defining the paintings and drawings of the British artist Hector Caffieri:

Where the name, Hector Caffieri is given with the first name/s and surname of the artist, usually cited as Hector Caffieri, then in their qualified and professional opinion they are in no doubt, it is the genuine and authentic item, one painted by the artist himself.

When Attributed to Hector Caffieri, or it is similarly written or used as ascribed to or Attrib, [abbreviated,] or ascribed to, then in their opinion it is 'probably' a work by the artist, at least in part. But... there is no guarantee. It is only an opinion.

When Hector Caffieri; “School of, or Studio of ….” or “Workshop of Hector Caffieri" or attelier of Hector Caffieri " is used, this means that in their opinion it is a work executed in the studio of the artist. Possibly by an apprentice or a pupil under the principal artists supervision and guidance.

But if the term Hector Caffieri circle of, or “Circle of Hector Caffieri” is specifically used, then in their opinion, it is a work only of the period of the artist, but showing his influence, or someone closely associated with the artist, BUT not necessarily by his pupil or student.

When the name is given thus; Painted in the “Style of Hector Caffieri ” or “Follower of Hector Caffieri
is used, this means that in their opinion it is a work of art executed only in the artist’s way, his 'style', but not necessarily by a pupil. Yet it may be contemporary, or nearly contemporary of the artist.

If the phrase in the “Manner of Hector Caffieri is used or is defined….” then in their opinion it is also only a work painted in the style of the artist, but of a later date and definitely not by the artist himself.

When the term “After….Hector Caffieri "; is the term used, then in their opinion it is a copy (made at any date) of an authentic and original work by the artist. This also applies to prints made 'after' an original work of art either by the artist himself or another artist/ printmaker..

Signed - Hector Caffieri ; “Dated….” or “Inscribed Hector Caffieri ” Then in their opinion the work has been signed/dated/or inscribed by that specific artist. The addition of a question mark ? however, indicates a strong element of doubt.

When the term 'bears signature',
is used or the name, Hector Caffieriis specified followed by the words; "With signature ….”, or “With date ….” or “With inscription….” or “Bears signature of Hector Caffieri /date/or inscription” Then in 'their opinion,' the signature / date / or inscription is spurious, forged or has been added by someone else other than the artist.